SC guidelines for courts in areas under COVID-19 alert levels 1 and 2 out | Inquirer News

SC guidelines for courts in areas under COVID-19 alert levels 1 and 2 out

/ 07:21 PM April 24, 2023

The SC issues guidelines for courts in areas under COVID-19 alert levels 1 and 2

Court gavel. INQUIRER.net stock photo

MANILA, Philippines — Courts in areas under COVID-19 Alert Levels 1 and 2 will remain physically open, with 50 to 70 percent of their workforce reporting for duty.

This is the rule set by the Supreme Court under a circular issued Monday, which aims to guide courts if such pandemic alerts are raised by the national government while ensuring operational continuity.

Article continues after this advertisement

The circular was signed by Court Administrator Raul Villanueva.

FEATURED STORIES

According to the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA), the circular also provided that judges without court space but already have their personnel will maintain a skeleton workforce of at least 30 percent.

No Saturday duty is allowed, and night courts are not allowed to operate in stations where these have been organized or required, the circular added.

Article continues after this advertisement

“If the IATF places a particular province under Alert Level 2 but identifies certain cities or municipalities therein under Alert Level 1 or places an area under a conflicting alert level system with a more restrictive health protocol, such classification will not in any way affect the observance of the required court operation guidelines,” the circular likewise states.

Article continues after this advertisement

Under COVID-19 Alert Levels 1 and 2, the circular said pleadings, motions, and other court submissions might be filed or served by registered mail through the duly-accredited private couriers or by transmitting through email following previous guidelines.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: SC imposes preventive measures vs coronavirus

Personal filing and follow-up of cases are allowed, subject to strict health protocols, it stressed.

The OCA further noted that face-to-face hearings are a priority based on the circular.

Article continues after this advertisement

It said all judges are allowed until April 30 to conduct fully remote videoconferencing hearings, at most thrice in a week, regardless of their location in the country, with notice to the OCA.

The OCA also said court personnel who are not scheduled to report for work physically should be considered under a work-from-home arrangement.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) placed 26 provinces and cities under Alert Level 2 from April 16-30 as it approved the recommendation of the sub-Technical Working Group for Data Analytics.

READ: IATF raises COVID-19 alert level in most parts of PH; some restrictions in effect

Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire and Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos signed the resolution, which placed the 26 areas under Alert Level 2 for 15 days, on April 14.

“While these areas have reached low-risk classifications for cases and utilization rates, these have vaccination rates lower than 70% of the target total and population and/or 70% of the total A2 population (senior citizens),” explained the DOH.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

“Meeting these targets will allow these areas to be de-escalated to Alert Level 1. Also, no province or city has been escalated to Alert Level 2 from Alert Level 1 since January 2023,” it added.

RELATED STORIES

56 of 82 provinces placed under COVID-19 alert level 1

IATF raises COVID-19 alert level in most parts of PH; some restrictions in effect

kga/abc

For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.

The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.

TAGS: COVID-19, Supreme Court

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.